No Lights, No Lycra brings dance party to Biennale

THE first of three No Lights, No Lycra dance events held as part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB) got plenty of positive energy pumping.

Now two more of the NLNL dance nights are set for the Ballarat Mining Exchange as part of the BIFB program on Monday 15 September and Monday 6 October.

Ballarat NLNL ambassador Bec Perovic said dancing among the Biennale photographic art currently on show in the historic building is a fantastic experience.

“It was amazing to dance among the installations,” said Ms Perovic, who together with Tristan James (also known as Mr DJ) started the regular Ballarat dance events as part of the worldwide NLNL movement 10 years ago.

Normally they take place in the Victorian Railways Institute Hall on the first and third Monday of the month, but Ms Perovic says they were delighted when the BIFB committee invited them to be part of the Biennale festival program.

“It was amazing dancing in the historic setting of the Mining Exchange and it felt like we were part of the art last week,” she said.

“It was joyous and fun. People were letting loose. There was a lot of good energy going on.”

NLNL is an international dance community that provides an opportunity to dance like no one is watching because there is “no light, no lycra, no teacher, no steps to learn and no technique”.

“It offers a space where people can completely let go, shake out the stresses of the week, and lose themselves in the music,” Ms Perovic said.

“We’ve built up a community of dancers but we do always get newbies. It is really beneficial.

“There are physical, emotional and mental benefits. It’s a real dopamine hit. We are alcohol-free and we attract all ages too.

“We do generally try to do a mix of music genres and a mix of decades so it will appeal to everyone, and we also take requests if people send them in when they purchase their ticket or through our Facebook page.”

Bookings for the next two events taking place 8pm to 9pm on Monday 15 September and Monday 6 October in the Ballarat Mining Exchange as part of BIFB can be made through Trybooking or the NLNL Ballarat Facebook page.

After that, NLNL Ballarat will be returning to its regular venue.